Flying-machine.



PAT-ENTED JUNE 18, 1907;

F. B. PELTS.

v FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 857,166. .BATENTED JUNE 18, 1907,

F. B. FELTS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION I'ILBD $1713.19, 1906.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 2.

. HWCIW Fe/IS.

..To all who-m it may'concern:

PATENT OFFICE.

FLETCHER EDWARD FELTS, OF LO S ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. 1

FLYING-MACHINE.

Be it known that I, FLETCHER EDWARD FEL'rs, .a citizen of the United States, residin atLos Angeles, in the county of Los Anjge es and'State of California, have invented =a new and useful Flying-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is to provide a fl g machine capable of propulsion through t e a r, both with andagainst the wind, thus.

making-it possible to navigate the air in a practical manner for patrol and signal duty in time of ,war, for traveling over rugged countryin direct lines, and for other purposes that can be accomplished only by a successful air-ship.

3. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flyingmachine embodying this invention in practical use. Dotted lines indicate different positions of the wings in operation; Arrows applied to the several parts indicate the direc 'tion 'of'motion ofthe same. Fig. 2 is a frag-'- mental end elevation. Fig. ,3 is a frag-' mental plan view showing the driving mech anism and a ortion of the frame. Fig. 4=is a fragmental etail of the front end of one side of the driving mechanism, fragments of wings 'being-i'shown. It is to be understood that the frame and tracks are alike in their constructionliront and rear on both sides of the machine. Fig. 5 is' a section on line 119, Fig. 4, looking'in the direction of the arrow. Fig.- 6 is a section on line. mm, Fig. 4, looking inthe direction of the arrow. Figs. 5 and-6 show difi'ere'nt'positions of the base ofthe wing and its carriage. Fig. 7 is a d belt travel. T

7 fragmental detail showing in end elevation 4 the structure (at oneside of the machine) on which the win carriages and their driving iis view is a fra ental ele- .Vation from the left of Figs. 1 a 4, omitting the wings and the belt which drives the same. This view shows the track-bracket and braces for holding the track. It also shows the 111-. ley which carries the wing-carrying belt. ig.

8 is aplan indicated by line w Fi s. 4 and7, omittin the. wheel.

, 2 indicates theidrivi ng apparatus Specification of Letters Patent. Application 'filed February 19, 1906. Serial No. 801,742.

Fig. 9 is a etail illus-- trating amboo ribs, cane wrapper, and rein- Patented June is, 1907.

3 is the motor which may consist ofone or more engines of the heat or other type of engines.

4 is a driving ulley. 5 is a belt w eel, and 6 a belt trained around the driving pulley and belt wheel. 7 designates wings driven by the drivin belt 6 and arranged to feather on the forwar stroke, and arranged to strike the air for propelling the machine as the wings move backward relative to the frame 8 of the machine. 9 in a generalway designates the track for the wing carriages 10. The track 9 comprises themai'n'rails l1 and 12, and a third rail 13. The main rails 11 and 12 extend entirelyaround the pulley wheels 4 and 5,. and encircle the driving belt 6 to which the car- 'r1ages'10 are attached, and by which they are propelledalong the track formed by the The carriages 10 are provided with anti- -friction wheels which run along the track gagement with said rails 1 1 and 12.

The opposite sides of the machine are comdrawings, each carriage is shown pro-. 'vided with twelve antifriction track wheels I 14, '15, 16, for the top, bottom, and inside enplements of each other, and each is provided with'a track and with a set of wings. In the opposite sides of the machine are designated b like characters, the characters on one side drawings, the complementary parts on the 0 the machine being distinguishedfrom those 1 on the other side of the machine by an index.

The endless tracks are constructed with an upper and a lower portion or way, respectively, marked 17 and 18, united at the ends by semicircular portions 19 and'2O at front and'rear, respectively. The rails of the upper portion or way' 17 ofthe track are arranged. in a horizontal plane, and the rails of the lower 1portion or way 18 are arranged in a vertical p ane, and the tracks are twisted at the front and rear ends of the lower way to make connection between the semicircular.

. ends of the track and the intermediate portion ofthe lowerway, and to allowthe .car

riages to run along the track and turn to horizontal, vertical, and other positions as they follo w therealong.

- The carriages 10 areheld fiatwise of the if track "and turn {therewith as they travel orizon around/ th ejsame, so thation theugper-por tionof-thetrack the carriages stan 1 are always maintained'in an extended position, the feathering of said wings being accomplished by turning the same on their. swivels to meet the air in an edgewise manner as hereinafter more fully described.

21 designates springs for' normally holding the wings in operative position, said springs being fastened at one end to a bracket 22 of the carriage, and at the other end-to an arm 23 which projects from the wing.

It is to'be understood that the swivel bearing and all the other bearings and the-frictional parts are to be provided with ball or roller bearings wherever the same is practicable.

24 designates antifriction rollers for the wings respectively, each being rigidly connected with its wing and arranged-to engage the third rail 13 when the .wing moves upward at the rear end of its stroke, thus to turn the wing into feathering osition shown at the top of Fig. 4, and as t e wings move forward the rollers 24, by engagement with the third rail 13, hold the wings in feathered position during the upward and forward stroke and (hiring a portionof the downward stroke at the front end of the machine.

The springs 21 are arranged to turn their Wings respectively into operative position as soon as the roller 24 escapes from the third rail 13. Said third rail 13 is bent away from the path of the roller 24 at each end, as indicated at 25 in Fig. 7, which figure may be regarded as representing either the front or the rear end of one side of the frame of the track of the machine.

26 represents yielding connections between 1 the belt and the carriages, respectively; said connections may be made of any suitable form of material, the same being fastened to the belt and. adapted to propel the carriages as the belt moves forward.

27 represen tsa clutch connecting the shafts .23 of the driving wheels 4, allowing'the motors or engines 3 to operate simultaneously or alternatively to drive the wings on the opposite sides of the machine, the purpose being to allow one set of wings on one side of the machine to be driven while the other set remains stationary, or vice versa;' or by throwing the clutch appropriately, both engines and both sets of wings willbe made to run simultaneously. v

The n nber of wings appropriate to the machine /ill bev determined by the constructor or designer. In the machine shown, six wings are p qvided ateach side, the same being arrange so that there will be always -6 5 half that number'in operation whenever the belt pertaining to that side is inoperation. When both belts 'are driven there will always be six wings in operation for driving the machine-forward, and whenever one belt is slowed down below the speed of the other belt the effect is to turn the course of the machine, three wings on one side serving to reserving to propel the machine, thus turning the machine rapidly from the side on which the wings are operated to propel the machine forward.

The frame of the machine may extend forward and rearward to a point, the same being formed of ribs 29 preferablymade of bamboo reinforced by piano wire 30.

In practice, the buoyancy of the gas-bag will be sufiicient tolift the machine into the air tothe required height and after the machine has been lifted from-the ground the enginesmay be'put into operation at any time to prqpel the wings, and the operator in the usual manner may move to the rear of the frame in order to; slant the machine upward forwardly so thatthe wings produce an upward flight. 1.

When the appropriate height is reached,

tard and the three wings on the other side the machine maybe brought to a level and tion being so arranged that at least one wing is always in operation.

In order to apply the propelling power in the most effective manner the driving mech anism is mounted on opposite sides of a frame constructed-with ribs 29 spread apart at the middle of the frame and held apart by braces 31. Said frame may be rectangular in cross section as clearly shown in Fig. 2. and the ribs 29 are brought to a, poiut'at the ends 32 of thefr'anle; there being four ribs, one at each corner of the frame, extending the full length of the machine. Said ribs are reinforced at bottom and side by strands 33, 34 of piano wire along the outer sides of the ribs.

35 represents a cane wrapping around they bamboo ribs 29 to prevent the bamboo from splitting. The piano wires 33 and 34 are preferably arranged outside thecane wrapping and are secured in place at'intervals by fastenings 36 of piano wire or some othersuitable appliance;

Each outer track rail 11 is supported by brackets 37 that are between the drivingpulley 4 and the wheel 5 out of the path of the carriages and their wings; and is also supports .by the bearings 38 and braces 39 canried by the shafts of the pulleys and wheels 4 and 5. 40 designates bearings, carried by the frame and .in which the'shaftsl of the pulleys. and wheels are mounted; 42 desi nates collars fastened to the shafts 41 on eac side of all the. shaft bearings to'hold' the shaftsrigid'inthe frame. this means a firm support-is provided for the continuous outer rail 11 of the track.

43' designates the framearms that support the bearings 40. I The structure -must be made suflicientlyrigid to support the strain ping. the ribs 2 pf the wings while inoperation.

- 44' designates a floor in the central rectangular frame portion '9, the same bein made of piano wire -meshinterwoven 'wit cane wrapper like the wrapper 35-used for'wrap- 37fdesignates the brackets or armsthat Secure the inner track rail 12 .to the frame and-.37 designates bracket arms that secure both inner and outer'track rails to the frame advantageous manner.

said rails.

which they move forwardly and rearwardly,

and for'this reason-said .wing's reach well out into the atmosphereand-act thereon in an I do not-intend tolimit the device'to spe-" cificiconstruction of the belt or-otherparts and the same may be varied within the skill of the constructor without departing from the invention.

What I claim is and means constructed to feather the wings to move edgewise in extended ositionon their forward stroke, and to 1101' the wings in operative position to move fiatwise on their rearward stroke.'

2. A flying-machine provided with wings, means for propelling the wings, means-to feather the wings and tohold them upright on the forward stroke, and means to turn the Wings into operative'position at-the beginning of the rearward stroke, and to hold them extended laterally during the rearward stroke. 4

3. A flying machine provided with swiveled wings, a belt connected with said wings. to operate the same in extended position,

' means for driving the' belt, and means for turning theextended wings on their swivels into edgewise non-operative position as they along the upper limbs of 1. A flying machine provided with traveling wings, means for propelling said wings,

they move backward. v 4 ."A flying machine provided with elongated wings swiveled to turn on swivels hav- I move forward and into operative position as ing their axes extending substantially in line with the mid length of said wings, means for advancing said Wings forwardly and rearwardly through a circuit in which the wings at all times extend longitudinally outward "from said circuit and at right. angles to the direction of advancement, and means for turning saidwings on their-swivels from op' erative to inoperative position and viceversa. 5. A flying machine provided with elon-- gated wings,-me'ans forv advancing said wings forwardly and r'earwardly through a circuit .in which the wings at all times'extend longitudinally outward from said circuit and at an angle, to the direction of advancement,

swivels for said wings extending in the direction of thelength thereof; and meansfor automatically turning said .wings on their swivels to feather the same;

' 6., Aflying machine provided-with 'elon-' gated wings; means for advancing said wings a forwardly and rearwardlythrough a circuit lying-in a vertical'plane, means forholding said 'wings vertical throughout their upper run, and means for holding said Wings horizontal during their-lower run.

7. A flyingmachi'ne provided with win s, anendless track, means for propellin t e wings along said, track, said track ho din 1 said Wings upright on the forward stroke, an

beingtwisted at the end to move the'wings into laterally extended position'during the rearward stroke.

8. A flying machine provided with frame, e Ioo means for 'drivin thebelt, two sets of wingsi -two end ss tracks on said frame, a belt,

one set for eac track, carriages on sa1 connectin the wings with the carriages respective y for propelling said wings. 9. A flyin'gmachine provided with a frame, two endless twisted tracks on said tra'cks, meansconnecting the'belt with the carriages for driving the same, and means frame, a belt, means for driving the belt, two

sets of wings,'on'e.set for each track; car: rlages on said tracks, means connecting the belt with the carriages I for driving the same,

and means connecting the wings with the carriages respectively for propelling said wings.- In testimony'whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California,this 10th 4 day of February'1906; I I I FLETCHER EDWARD FELTS. In presence of- I I i JAMEsR. TOWNSEND, JULIA TowNsENp. 

